EDC Survival Kit – Increasing the Odds of Survival

Sooner or later we’re all going to find ourselves in a situation where a few coincidental happenings could turn a bad day into a survival situation. With this in mind I opted to put together a EDC Survival Kit to increase my chances in any of these scenarios.

EDC Survival Kit

We all carry keys. They are one item that is usually on our person at all times when we are out and about. With this in mind I set out to find a few small unobtrusive items that I could keep on my keyring without noticeable bulk or inconvenience.

My first choice for my key ring survival kit (aka EDC Survival Kit) was a tiny flashlight. At first I opted for one of those nifty, small, squeeze-style LED flashlights (LRI PWK Photon II LED Keychain Micro-Light, White Beam) with an additional locking switch, for hands free or continual use.

Currently I carry the Fenix Compact 140 Lumen Flashlight or the 4Sevens Mini CR2 180 Lumen Flashlight. Both of these lights are super bright for their compact size and as long as you ensure you have a good battery in them, they will blast a path of light for you!

LEDs have come a long way and now are capable of producing quite a bright light with almost no energy draw. These flashlights can last for years if only used occasionally. If used continually some of them can last between 12 and 40 hours depending on the manufacturer and the type of batteries used.

I also decided that a compass would be a perfect addition to my EDC Survival Kit. I opted for a button-style compass. The only button-style compasses I could find locally and cheap, where on souvenir plastic key-chains, much too large for my needs. I decided to go with the keychain model, and cut it down to a more manageable size, leaving enough plastic for me to drill a new hole to feed my keyring through.

To finish up my key-chain survival kit, I found one of the many key sized multi tools on the market. There are quite a few types out there so I chose a Utili-key XT 8-In-1. This tiny, key-sized tool provided me with Flat Screwdriver, Phillips Screwdriver, Micro-Sized Screwdriver, Nail File, Nail Cleaner, Wire Cutter, Wire Stripper and Bottle Opener.

I also carry a Swiss Army knife, The Hiker model, in my pants pocket. While I prefer the versatility of the Gerber Multitools or the Leatherman multitools, they are too big to comfortably keep in your pcket, that’s where the Hiker comes in. This pocket knife has a Large blade, a Small blade, Can opener with small screwdriver, Bottle opener with large screwdriver & wire stripper, Wood saw, a Reamer with sewing eye, Phillips screwdriver, Toothpick and tweezers. I can’t count the number of times that this tool has come into play and saved the day. On one occasion this was the only tool I had with me for 3 days straight, when I had to redo all of the plumbing in a house. Granted it was just PVC, but the Swiss Army Knife was the only saw I had available to me.

Automobile kit

I also decided to outfit my car with some essentials to serve as a EDC Survival Kit also. I found an unused messenger bag and decided that would be my “trunk bag”. This way if I had to abandon my car and walk, I could take my gear with me.
Mylar space blankets. These blankets are made from the same material that NASA uses to protect the international space station from radiation. They are super thin, weigh next to nothing and can reflect up to 97% of your body’s heat, making them very warm. I opted to purchase a 10 pack of these since I have a family to think of.

Heavy duty 5′ x 7′ space blanket. Similar to the Mylar blankets I listed above but bonded onto a piece of rugged, heavy duty tarp. This increases the warmth and can also be used as a water proof shelter or signaling device.

Gerber E-tool. The E-tool is a strong, folding, compact shovel. It has a serrated edge that can be used to saw through grass, plants, and undergrowth or for cutting into ice or hard dirt. This tool would come in very handy if my car became stuck in the snow or for a multitude of other uses should I have to abandon the car and go on foot.

Gerber 600 or Gerber Diesel multi-tool. I can’t speak highly enough of the Gerber multi-tools. I keep on in each of my family’s vehicles as part of my EDC Survival Kit and I have a few others I keep in other locations (like my lunch box). The Gerber 600 has Bluntnose pliers, Tungsten carbide insert cutters, wire crimper, fine edge knife, serrated knife, cross point screwdriver, small, medium and large flat blade screwdrivers, lanyard ring, can opener, bottle opener, file, and ruler. The Gerber Diesel has needlenose pliers, wire cutter, partially serrated knife blade, cross point screwdriver, small, medium and large flat blade screwdrivers, can opener, bottle opener, file, saw and scissors. In a survival situation I’d take either of these fantastic Gerber tools, but if I didn’t have my Swiss Army Knife and it’s saw, then it’d be the Gerber Diesel for sure.

Flashlight. There is nothing worse than when you need a flashlight only to find out that the batteries are dead. This is way more likely if it sits in your car for a few years unused. This is where the Shake Flashlight (sometimes called the Forever Flashlight) has it’s niche. This flashlight is not reliant upon batteries but uses the Faraday Principle of Electromagnetic Energy. 15-30 seconds of shaking provides up to 5 minutes of continuous bright light. Add to this the LED “bulb” that will never burn out and you have a light that will deliver when you need it.

I feel that equipping your person and your vehicle with these components of your EDC Survival Kit will not only prepare you for survival, but will also prepare you for many of the day to day challenges that we all encounter. You’ll find yourself grabbing for your multi tool at every turn and if you find yourself with a flat tire, this Shake light will be a huge bonus. I hope you never find yourself in a situation where your car is stuck in the snow, but if you are, and if the Gerber E-tool can’t help you dig it out, then at least you can wrap yourself in some mylar space blankets until help arrives.

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Automobile EDC Supplies List

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